Alarming reason pilots are ordered to break wind in front of each other
It's one of those taboo habits that most travellers would agree is just not on.
Farting on a plane is simply wrong for the same reason car wind and lift trumps are 'illegal' - the victim is trapped and cannot escape. Sitting next to another passenger with wind is indeed a very unfortunate event and a rotten start to your holiday or trip. You either have to keep getting up out of your seat to let them go to the toilet every time they need to privately pop off, or you suffer the revolting indignation of breathing the foul air that has blasted out directly from their intestines into your lungs.
However, if you're a pilot rather than a passenger, you will have been told you MUST toot freely while in the cockpit, according to an one Argentine flight attendant. Barbara Bacilieri, also known as Barbie Bac to her almost 2.65milion YouTube million followers, claims pilots are "prohibited" from holding in their gas because the discomfort it causes can distract them from their crucially important role.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
To make matters worse, flatulence is heightened when the plane reaches an altitude of 30,000 feet. "At high altitudes, atmospheric pressure is lower, which increases the volume of internal gases," she explained. "This can cause discomfort and distraction in the cockpit when the pilots should be focused on doing their job, not in pain from being full of gas. That's why it's always recommended that pilots, if they have to, just release them."
Her wild assessment is even backed up by a 2013 study by Danish and British gastroenterologists. Hans Christian Pommergaard, Jakob Burcharth, Anders Fischer, William Thomas and Professor Rosenberg told the New Zealand Medical Journal that holding your farts in may seem preferential but they suggested that for the sake of their health and comfort, passengers and crew should set them free. Not doing so could lead to pain, bloating, indigestion, stress and even nausea, they said. According to the Sydney Morning Herald they concluded: "There is actually only one reasonable solution - just let it go." The medics did recognise that air cabin quality may be diminished for other passengers though.
The gassy dilemma also applied to the cockpit and pilots, the specialists found. "If the pilot restrains a fart, all the drawbacks previously mentioned, including diminished concentration, may affect his abilities to control the airplane. If he lets go of the fart his co-pilot may be affected by its odour, which again reduces safety on board the flight." Barbie Bac also claims the pilots eat different meals - not to see who can produce the biggest back draft but so they don't both suffer another unfortunate bowel incident. "The commander and the copilot choose different meal options. One will choose chicken and the other will choose pasta," she says.
This apparently is to lessen the chances of them both getting food poisoning, which would mean no one would be able to fly the plane - not ideal. "It's almost always the captain who makes the choice, and the copilot is the one who has to accept the alternative," explained Bacilieri, who works for a Spanish budget carrier.
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Birmingham Airport temporarily shuts after emergency landing
Birmingham Airport in central England temporarily shut its runway today after a small aircraft was involved in an emergency landing that left one person with minor injuries. The police said in a post on X that emergency crews responded to the incident, which occurred at around 13:40 local time. The airport said in a later update that all people on board the aircraft had been discharged by the emergency services. Check in services and security screening were temporarily closed, it added. Images shared on social media showed a small propeller aircraft stationary on the runway of Britain's seventh busiest airport. The aircraft is a Beech B200 Super King Air that took off at 12.11 local time and was bound for Belfast in Northern Ireland, according to plane tracking website Flightradar 24. A spokesperson for the airport said they could not immediately confirm a timeframe for the reopening of the runway. The airport website showed some flights have been diverted to other British airports and some departures have been delayed to 18:00. The airport, which served some 13 million passengers last year, is Britain's third largest outside London.
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Feline fine: President Michael D Higgins hosts Britain's Princess Anne — and a cat — at Áras
It was a simple question, but President Michael D Higgins had to take a moment to think of an answer for Britain's Princess Anne. 'You've been doing this for quite a long time,' the Princess Royal said. Sabina Higgins responded they would be in Áras an Uachtaráin 14 years on November 11. 'Does it feel like much longer?' Princess Anne asked. 'Well…' Mr Higgins said, before taking a moment to think. He responded to Princess Anne in soft tones, as the media strained to hear the response from the other side of the State Reception Room. Princess Anne is far from the first member of the British Royal family Mr Higgins has hosted since moving into the Phoenix Park in 2011. But barring a last-minute visit, she will likely be the final royal to visit Ireland before he departs the Áras in November and his successor moves in. The relationship between the Irish and British has been strained at various points in our shared history, to put it mildly. In May 1995, Prince Charles, as he was known at the time, became the first British royal to visit Ireland since it gained its long-sought independence. Documents released by the UK National Archives in 2020 showed the then British ambassador to Ireland, Veronica Sutherland, described the trip as a 'turning point in history'. Charles visited Ireland several more times before eventually becoming king in 2022. It is widely expected he will return. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, became the first reigning monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland when she came to our shores in 2011 on a trip that involved stops in Dublin and Cork. She was followed by Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, in July 2018, with Prince William and Kate Middleton following in March 2020. While still significant moments, the royal visits have become far more normalised and low-key in recent years. Princess Anne signs the visitors' book at Áras an Uachtaráin. There was a relaxed atmosphere as Princess Anne entered the State Reception Room to meet Mr Higgins. The Princess Royal, who took her own pen out of the black handbag tucked under her elbow, flicked through the pages in the visitors' book, worried about taking up too much space. 'Am I wasting an entire page?' she asked, as she examined how the last visitor had handled this situation. Mrs Higgins told her she 'deserved an entire page'. She settled on the middle of the page, singing, 'Anne, 6th August 2025'. 'Do you spend all your time here?' Princess Anne asked as she gazed into the magnificent garden in Áras an Uachtaráin while posing for photos. Almost all of it, Mr and Mrs Higgins remarked, as Princess Anne described it as a 'nice spot'. The media were ferried outside as the group met with the British ambassador to Ireland, Paul Johnson, for just under an hour. Here, reporters learned someone else is already making themselves at home. A black and white cat has been wandering around the grounds of the Áras in recent weeks. 'How did you let the intruder in?' a security official called from the front door. A group of gardaí standing outside started laughing as the cat was carried out of the Áras and moved away. How will the new feline visitor cope when the new human inhabitants move into the house in November and President Higgins and his wife move out? Already, some of their belongings are being relocated to Galway Princess Anne was right; he has been doing this for quite a long time. But the end of the Michael D Higgins era is growing ever closer.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Award-winning Wetherspoons pub that has huge rooftop beer garden is right by the beach
Plus, how to save money at Wetherspoons CHEERS Award-winning Wetherspoons pub that has huge rooftop beer garden is right by the beach A WETHERSPOONS pint always goes down a treat - and even more so at this one venue that has a rooftop garden and sits right by the beach. Back in 2015, The Admiral Collingwood in Ilfracombe, North Devon, scooped up the prize of best new pub at the National Pub Design Awards. 3 The Admiral Collingwood is an award-winning pub in Ilfracombe, Devon Credit: Alamy And since, the boozer has become an icon of Ilfracombe's seafront after judges described it as "an uncompromisingly modern building where the glass dome offers urban presence, while the rest of the main elevation is understated yet sophisticated", according to Harrison Ince Architects. Inside, new artworks were commissioned for the pub at the time, and a steel sculpture of a wave breaking was installed. On the roof of the pub, there is a beer garden which is open between March and October and boasts amazing views across the coast. One recent visitor said: "The view of the sea is amazing; the roof terrace is lovely and the drinks are true spoons quality. Read more on travel inspo SHOW BOAT I tried new Omaze-style draw for superyacht holidays & lived like a billionaire "We love Ilfraspoons!" Another added: "The view and the amazing prices make the THE place to go" According to Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the pub serves three changing beers which often include ales from Fat Belly, GT Ales, Exmoor, Cotleigh and Bays featuring regularly. In the summer, this increases to four beers. And then additionally, there are three regular beers on offer to punters. Visitors also get to learn a bit of histroy about the purpose built pub when they visit, as the menu states: "Until its very recent closure, the Collingwood Hotel had welcomed visitors to north Devon's Ilfracombe for over 130 years. I went to the UK's biggest Wetherspoons with rooftop bar overlooking the beach "The imposing five-storey building was named after Admiral, Lord Collingwood, Nelson's second-in-command at Trafalgar (who fought just off the Spanish coast in 1805). "Cuthbert Collingwood fired the first shot in the battle (one of British naval history's most famous and crucial) and took over command of the British fleet after the fatal wounding of his friend Horatio Nelson." Just a short walk away from the pub is Wildersmouth Beach, which is sheltered and shingle. Despite being central to Ilfracombe, the dog-friendly beach is often less crowded than other sandy beaches nearby. 3 Also in Ilfracombe is Damien Hirst's bronze Verity sculpture Credit: PA:Press Association Ilfracombe is also home to the Landmark Theatre, in Jubilee Gardens. For art lovers, make sure to follow the coast around to Ilfracombe's harbour where you will find Damien Hirst's bonze sculpture called Verity - a half-skinned pregnant woman, who stands 20 metres tall. The high street is also said to be a "thriving hub of independent shops", according to Visit Ilfracombe. There are many craft shops, gift shops and cafes to explore - and even a coffee-cum-craft shop. Sweet tooths will also enjoy the Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium, which sells handcrafted chocolates and has a chocolate museum - which is free to visit. And make sure to check out the department story Chas N Pedlar & Son, which has been running for over a century. The seaside town has a lot of choice for accommodating too, with lots of holiday homes. How can I save money at Wetherspoons? FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day. Check a map - Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other. So if you're planning a pint at a Spoons, it's worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you're settling in at the cheapest. Choose your day - Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights. For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual. Pick-up vouchers - Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled. Get appy - The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table - but you don't need to be in the pub to use it. Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play. Check the date - Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry. It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14. As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival. A Devon local has walked the South West Coast Path numerous times – these are her best spots The Salt Path movie doesn't show. Plus, Devon is also home to the best fish and chips in the UK.
